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REEL 1 Background in Cottingham and Hull, GB, 1925-1939: family and education. Reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of Hull Blitz, 1940-1942: incident of landmine which fell on Preston Road; incendiaries which fell on city; attitude towards German Air Force crews; German bomb hits on city; use of Anderson shelters; effect of landmines. Period as civilian deck hand on board tug boats in GB, ca 1940-1942: duties; character of tugs; Oerlikon gun mounted on tug. Enlistment and basic training with Royal Navy at Devonport, GB, 1942. Recollections of operations with HMS Seagull in Arctic, 1942: initial impressions; weather conditions off Iceland; attempt to rescue bosun from in sea off Iceland; sight of German Air Force reconnaissance aircraft; U-Boat attacks on convoy.
REEL 2 Continues: use of radar; crew's reaction to Russian troop's treatment of Finnish POWs, Kola Inlet, Russia; Russian soldier's confiscation of bar of chocolate given to Russian civilian; demonstration of sweeping equipment to Russians in White Sea; character of Russian anti-mine methods; instruction in history of Russian Revolution in Kola Inlet; character of Russian people; reaction to return to GB. Recollections of period preparing for D- Day in GB coastal waters, 1944: role escorting Mulberry Harbour sections to south coast of GB; story illustrating seamanship of captain off Deal; taking on radar-jamming equipment at Ipswich; Recollections of operations with HMS Seagull off Normandy coast, 6/1944: sweeping work off Normandy coast, 5/6/1944; use of broomstick identification for D-Day operations; effect of HMS Warspite firing her guns, 6/6/1944; use of arepesa gear for sweeping operations; threat from E-Boats; incident of narrow escape from friendly fire.
REEL 3 Continues: Story of sinking of Kingston Chrysabel by midget submarine off Walcheren, Netherlands, late 1944 including use of dan buoys. Recollections of period with LST 3022(3) in Far East, 1945-1946: drafting to ship at Glasgow; vermin on board; voyage through Mediterranean; arrival in Bombay, India, 1945; role in quelling of mutiny in Indian Navy, Bombay, India, 1946; sight of scuppered Japanese cruiser in Singapore; ferrying Dutch troops from Singapore to Dutch East Indies, 1946; sight of US equipment in New Guinea, 1946. Return to GB aboard Glengyle, 1946. Demobilisation procedure in GB, 1946. Period as civilian seaman post Second World War including memories of Ernest Hemingway.